-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- As its relationship with the West worsen , Russia is pivoting east in an attempt to secure business with China . Chinese premier Li Keqiang is in Moscow for a meeting with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev .

Medvedev said ahead of the meeting China was Russia 's `` first foreign trade partner , '' adding the volume of bilateral trade between the two countries doubled in the last six years .

The two are hoping to sign dozens of trade pacts , including a huge gas deal agreed in May .

Under the 30-year gas deal , Russian state-owned energy giant Gazprom will supply 38 billion cubic meters of gas to China each year starting 2019 . That is around 10 % of all Gazprom 's sales .

The price was not made public , but is estimated at around $ 456 billion over the 30-year term .

The deal was sealed at the height of the crisis in Ukraine . Europe is dependent on Russian energy , as around 30 % of Europe 's gas comes from Russia . A disruption to the flow would cause a major problem for Europe .

Russia is hoping its economy will get a boost from its relationship with China . Sanctions imposed on Russia by Western countries in the light of the conflict in Ukraine have slowed down its economic growth .

Russia 's Central Bank said the country 's growth rate will most likely drop further towards the end of 2014 . The IMF says that the Russian economy is in recession , and has lowered its growth forecast to just 0.2 % for the year .

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Chinese premier Li Keqiang is meeting his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev

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The two hope to sign a number of business agreements , including a huge gas deal

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Russia is looking to China as Western sanctions hit its economic growth